Quinten E. Ward

Quinten E. "Jack" Ward, age 90, of Denver, Colorado, Grand Rapids, Michigan and Mesquite, Nevada, passed peacefully into the loving arms of God with family by his side, February 11, 2016. He was born January 16, 1926 in Nashville, Illinois.He served in both the Navy and the Air Force. During World War II he was a radioman/navigator aboard Navy Martin PBM amphibious aircraft. During the Korean Conflict he was an Air Force Second Lieutenant working as an electrical engineer supporting vital strategic defense operations. Quinten graduated from the University of Michigan in 1952 with an Electrical Engineering degree and later, from Western Michigan University with a Master's in Business Administration. He worked for Lear Siegler in Grand Rapids, Michigan, developing aerospace guidance systems. While with Lear Siegler, he attended and lectured at MIT. He and six engineers formed a small business that grew into X-Rite, a company that pioneered a new era in the science of color measurement. Quinten's foresight was instrumental in developing X-Rite's global success. His interest in sailing inspired him to also start "The Sailboat Center," a family business in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Quinten was one of the founding fathers of the City of Kentwood, where he was a Charter Commissioner in the 1st Ward for 15 years and ran for mayor in 1979. His love for reading led him to support the construction of the first City of Kentwood Public Library, as well as libraries at Hillsdale College and the Von Mises Institute Library at Auburn University. Quinten served on various corporate and philanthropic boards, including AvtekAir Corporation, Hillsdale College, the Von Mises Institute and many others. He was an active supporter of conservative causes. He enjoyed sailing on Lake Michigan, and in the Caribbean, with his family, and was also involved in supporting the America's Cup challenges. His fascination with the world encouraged him to travel widely with his wife, Marian, to each of the World Continents, with the exception of Antarctica. Quinten was a loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather and is survived by his devoted wife of 67 years, Marian; his children, David (Mary) of Grand Rapids, MI, and their children Sarah and Jesse (Amy); Dianne Batts of Cordillera, CO and her children Wes and Betsy; Tom (Lynette) of Eugene, OR, and their children Katrina, Ethan and Amanda; two great-grandchildren, Lukas and Haven; and Swedish daughter Annika (Orjan) Teleman of Halmstad, Sweden. He is also survived by five sisters: Claudine Boomgarden, Marilyn Schmuker, Nancy Howland, Nila Olmstead and Wanda Hubbard; one brother, Ron Essich, and many nieces and nephews. He will always be remembered for his honesty, integrity, kindness and generosity to others. A Celebration of Life memorial service with be held at a later date in Denver, Colorado. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to a charity of your choice.